How much clothes do you really need?

**highlands** · #21 09/29/12, 07:40 PM

My cloths fit in about 2 cubic feet. Think two milk crates. In addition to that I have a full body work suit for summer and one for winter, a couple of hats for winter and a straw hat for summer, some gloves, a pair of boots and a pair of shoes. About one more cubic foot not including the boots.

lonelyfarmgirl · #22 09/29/12, 08:05 PM

OP you only have two gloves, one coat and four pants? Thats crazy talk!

Outside clothes get wet. I have two winter coats and two pairs of coveralls. That way I can switch when I come in wet. Same with gloves. I have a dozen pairs of those brown gloves going at a time so I always have a dry pair waiting.

Same with shoes. Two or three pairs I wear outside so I always have a dry pair.

And socks! I change my socks 3-6 times a day. Gotta have 40 pairs going at once.

stef · #23 09/29/12, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

For many years, I thought I was rich if I had one pair of Carharrt overalls, a pair of regular pants without holes, and another pair, for weddings/funerals/whatnot. A handful of shirts, few pair of socks, and two pair of shoes. Work boots and (again) wedding/funeral/whatnot shoes.

Up until about four years ago, I still only had like three pair of shoes.... work/nice/sandals. Always been a prepper, but didn't think about shoes and what I'd do if I could never have more... more I thought, more I worried... now, I have a large tote of brand new work type boots, half a dozen pair of hunting boots, rubber boots, boxes of sandals, extra pair of good boots in each vehicle.

You cannot have too many clothes, if they fit and you can wear em. I have to buy new pants, as it's real hard finding mens' pants in second hand/thrift shops... we (men) wear em to rags. Started storing things in totes, for safer storage.

Bought > 50 pairs of expensive Rocky socks last fall, for $1/pair (normally 12 to 15)....

Get $1/bags of shirts at the thrift store.

Being a prepper, having lots of backup and extras means not wearing rags in old age (when the system collapses, what you have is you got.... unless you can weave and make cloth)...

Boy, if that isn't the truth!!! LOL

Danaus29 · #24 09/29/12, 09:27 PM

I have 4 or 5 hooded jackets around here. 2 or 3 are usually awol or dirty, 1 at work, the rest in the closet. When it gets cold (below freezing) I wear 2 jackets. When the temps dip below 0*f I wear a jacket under my coat.

Gotta have a few pair of long john pants. My legs tend to get chilled.

Haven · #25 09/29/12, 09:34 PM

I just hauled 3 garbage bags of clothes to the Goodwill this morning. I do this once a year and I have no idea where these clothes even come from cause I rarely shop. Kept a very small amount of clothes similar to what the OP posted in the list.

The exception is socks. I must keep like 50 pairs of black socks to keep up with the invisible sock fairy who keeps hiding them from me.

Oh, and the size 6 black velvet with fur dress from 15 years ago never goes to the Goodwill. That sucker will stay on the hanger till I lose weight and can fit back into it...even if it takes another 15 years...heh...Everyone needs a little motivation.

am1too · #26 09/29/12, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darntootin

Realistically I am coming to the conclusion that I have WAY WAY too much clothes. I have 3 hampers that are full all the time and I can't even keep track anymore. I have drawers full of clothes that I never wear. I'm going to bag up 90% of it and dump it off at goodwill.

What seems reasonable and manageable to me is the following;

1. 4 pairs of pants ( jeans mostly with one pair dressier pants for those rare occasions when I need to look spiffy )

2. 2 shorts ( also double as bathing suites )

3. 7 t-shirts

4. 5 long sleeve

5. 3 sweater/fleece

6. 2 pair carhart bibs

7. 14 pair underwear

8. 14 pair socks

9. One knit hat

10 one pair work gloves

11. one pair warm gloves

12. One suite for funerals ( including my own )

What do you think of this list? What do you think you would need personally?

Depends on time of year and social obligations.

am1too · #27 09/29/12, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

It sounds as though I have more clothing than everyone (combined) in this thread. I've been collecting clothes since I was in high school. We have 4 distinct seasons here and I have plenty for each season. I've spent much of my adult life working in offices so I always needed to have dressy stuff and business suits. I also have my chore clothes for doing dirty tasks and running/exercising clothes. I have a lot of shoes and have no intention of getting rid of any of them. They all serve a purpose and match the many outfits in my closets.

I sure am glad I don't have to worry about color coordinated shoes.

DamnearaFarm · #28 09/29/12, 09:55 PM

Wait. I'm supposed to worry about color coordinated shoes? Heck, in the summer I forget to wear 'em most of the time and in the winter I just need to make sure my boots match, lol.

hippygirl · #29 09/29/12, 09:57 PM

As for what I routinely wear, I have 5 pairs of denim shorts, assorted t-shirts, tanks, and camis for warm weather. For cool weather, I have (right now) one pair of jeans that's fit to wear and a few pairs of sweat pants, assorted sweat shirts, a sweater or two, and the same t-shirts. I have one pair of slacks (black) and two tops. As for shoes, Crocs, flipflops, NB tennis shoes, and a couple of pairs of casual flats.

Other than underclothes and a jacket, that's it...never have been much of a fashionista.

I still have all of my "professional" clothes (skirts, tops, and all the "stuff" that makes an outfit), but I'm getting rid of all of it soon.

I haven't heard anything about it for quite a few years now, but there used to be a charity where you could donate used clothing that provided homeless/abused women with professional-type clothes so they could look their best during a job interview, so I'm going to see if it's still around.

VERN in IL · #30 09/29/12, 10:11 PM

I don't think of clothing as individual articles, but rather as an entire garb.

I got my "going out on the town" shirt (1 set-button breast pocket)
I got my "work" shirts 7 sets. (100% cotton tees)
I got my "oil field" Baptism shirt (1) (whatever is stained)
I got my "Church" shirts (3) (button with breast pocket)

2 cotton sweater vest
1 sweater

1 zip up jacket hoodie
1 zip up coat
1 Stetson Fedora real rabbit pelt

That is my uppers.

The lowers are as followed:
Jeans:
Two pair of Levi 501's, dark blue(2)
Khakis, one pair that matches all shirts Church worn use (1)
One pair of thermal liners.

Underwear:
Three Briefs(3) White "JCpenny" good kind with gold stripe.
Six Boxers, traditional plaid design.

Socks:
Black Gold toe: 2 pair
Plain white cotton : 6 pair
Keen support fit socks: 1 pair

Footwear:
Two pair of Wolverine work boots with Superfeet insoles(2)
One pair of church shoes(1)
Muck chore boots(1)
One pair of boots that you don't mind ruining.

Belt: One money belt, matches shoes.

I currently have NO suit.

The goal: to wash laundry ONCE a week. :P

whiterock · #31 09/29/12, 10:42 PM

I tend to be more like Texican.

ed

Jenn · #32 09/30/12, 05:55 AM

I NEVER iron except when sewing so have enough work clothes (colored woven and denim pants, 'pretty' floral knit ie T-shirts that don't look like T-shirts) to last 2 weeks if needed between washing and hanging to dry relatively unwrinkled. Use the pretty T-shirts including a few too sexy for work ones, plus any of my pants or vast collection of non-work khaki shorts for 'nice' leave home attire, then for in the yard logo'd or stained T-shirts and worn too many days or too soiled for work yet pants/shorts or the pair with paint stains. Also have all my and DH's GI brown T-shirts ever and am slowly wearing them to rags. Have a bag or two of them set aside and need to bring more out into the dresser.

KentuckyDreamer · #33 09/30/12, 09:00 AM

After reading this thread it appears I NEED to go shopping. Since I left the work force three years ago I not only stopped "dressing for success", I gained weight.

I am now rethinking this clothing issue for myself and my seven year old.....I need to get into the prepper mindset with shoes and clothing....and stop gaining weight.

.

ai731 · #34 09/30/12, 09:10 AM

Living in the North requires more clothing. I have 3 sets of longjohns (top & bottom) 6 pairs of thermal sock liners, a dozen pairs of wool socks (most of tham hand-knitted myself) 6 fleace tops, 4 jackets (rain, autumn, cold-weather, and -40 weather), one "dress" full-length wool winter coat, 1 pair snow pants, 3 pairs of warm gloves (2 work & 1 dress) 2 pairs of heavy leather mittens (for wearing while running the snowblower; 2 pairs are required becasue you need a pair you can wear while the other pair is drying by the woodstove), 2 pairs of snow boots (one farm and one "dress"), 3 wool hats, 2 wool scarves... In a heavy wet snow, your entire outer layer gets soaked through, so you need a change of hat, gloves, jacket, pants, to go back out to do afternoon chores...

melissa78 · #35 09/30/12, 02:09 PM

With 3 kids, I am not sure there is any such thing as having too many hats & gloves!

But seriously, I would suggest at least two hats & pair of glves/mittens, as it always seems there are some drying out somewhere during the winter.